Lessons to learn from Seveso disaster
Background: 10th July 1976
The chemical release, which occurred in the small Italian town of Seveso, became a milestone in the development of European safety and environmental legislation.
A runaway chemical reaction released a toxic cloud into the atmosphere, causing large-scale contamination and environmental damage.
The damage:
- Although there were no fatalities, it lead to wide-scale slaughtering of cattle
- The incident affected a population of over 100,000 in the surrounding towns
Lessons to take:
- Better communication of substances
- Improved emergency planning
- Clearer procedures
- Better mitigation requirements
A safety sign of the times
Seveso, which was deemed a preventable disaster, led to a raft of European directives bearing its namesake. These directives are implemented in the UK under the Control Of Major Accident Hazards Regulations – also referred to as COMAH.
